Electronic device and camera

ABSTRACT

The object of the present invention is to enable reliable supply of oxygen which is necessary for a fuel cell to generate electric power, to the fuel cell. 
     In a camera, air orifices for linking the space inside a cell compartment with the outside of a casing are disposed in a position other than the portion (grip portion) which is held by a user, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface of the casing, that is, in the vicinity of a lens-barrel, and a concave-convex portion serving as an air orifice guard is formed at the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the air orifices. As a result, even when the user takes a picture of an object by holding the camera with his/her own hand, the air orifices are prevented from being closed by the user&#39;s hand, oxygen (air) can be constantly supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inside the cell compartment, and the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity. The present invention can be employed in a camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electronic device and a camera, andmore particularly to an electronic device and a camera in which, when afuel cell is used as a power source for the electronic device andcamera, oxygen necessary for the fuel cell to generate electric powercan be reliably supplied to the fuel cell.

2. Description of the Related Art

Following recent miniaturization and improved functionality ofelectronic devices such as cellular phones and cameras, the batteriesserving as power sources for the electronic devices are also required tobe further miniaturized and to have improved functionality.

Small fuel cells that have an energy density higher than that of thebatteries that have been conventionally used, such as lithium ionbatteries, have recently attracted much attention, and commercializationof electronic devices using fuel cells as a power source has beenresearched and developed.

Thus, electronic devices using fuel cells as a power source are still atthe stage of research and development. Therefore, there are no adequatereferences relating to prior art.

A sufficient amount of oxygen is necessary for the fuel cells togenerate electric power and, therefore, the supply of oxygen present inthe air to the fuel cells has been considered. In this case, it isnecessary to provide for sufficient contact of a fuel cell accommodatedinside a casing with the air present outside the casing.

However, when a user employs a small electronic device, for example, acamera, the user either holds the casing with a hand or holds it byconnecting to a tripod or the like. Thus, small electronic devices areheld differently in a variety of places, rather than being constantlyfixed to a prescribed place (the prescribed device is held in theprescribed place), as large television receivers.

Furthermore, users sometimes connect auxiliary units that add new orimprove existing functions and use such electronic devices. For example,usage of an auxiliary unit carrying a fuel cell, which functions as abattery, as an auxiliary unit for a camera has been considered.

Therefore, in order to commercialize the electronic devices using a fuelcell as a power source, it is necessary to take measures providing forsufficient contact of the air with the fuel cell accommodated inside thecasing of the electronic device, regardless of the way the casing isheld and without regard to the type of the auxiliary unit connected tothe electronic device.

However, the problem was that the effective measures of this kind haveyet to be developed.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the present invention toenable a reliable supply of oxygen, which is necessary for a fuel cellto generate electric power, to the fuel cell, when the fuel cell is usedas a power source for an electronic device or camera.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first electronic device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a cell compartment for accommodating a fuel cell, and anopening for linking the space inside the cell compartment with theoutside of a casing of the first electronic device, which is disposed ina position in the vicinity of the center of the prescribed surface ofthe casing, this position being other than the portion which is held bya user.

The first electronic device can be a camera comprising detachably orintegrally a taking lens-barrel at the side of the surface of the casingwhere the opening is disposed, wherein the opening is disposed in thevicinity of the taking lens-barrel.

A protrusion or a recess can be formed at the surface of the casingwhere the opening is disposed, at the side opposite to that where thetaking lens-barrel is disposed with respect to the opening, in thevicinity of the opening.

In the first electronic device in accordance with the present invention,an opening for linking the space inside the cell compartment foraccommodating a fuel cell with the outside of the casing is disposed ina position in the vicinity of the center of the prescribed surface ofthe casing, this position being other than the portion which is held bythe user.

The second electronic device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a cell compartment for accommodating a fuel cell, a connectionportion for connecting to another device, and an opening for linking thespace inside the cell compartment with the outside of a casing of thesecond electronic device, this opening being disposed at a certainsurface in the vicinity of the connection portion, of the surfaces ofthe casing, wherein the surface where the opening is disposed faces theother device and is not in contact therewith when the other device isconnected to the connection portion.

The surface where the opening is disposed can be at a prescribeddistance from the other device when the connection portion is connectedto the other device.

The second electronic device can be a camera employing a fuel cell as apower source, and the other device can be an auxiliary device for thecamera, which provides the camera with a prescribed function.

Alternatively, the other device can be a camera, and the secondelectronic device can be an auxiliary device for the camera, whichprovides the camera with a prescribed function. In this case, the secondelectronic device can be further provided with a power supply means forsupplying electric power from the fuel cell accommodated in the cellcompartment to the camera.

In the second electronic device in accordance with the presentinvention, the opening for linking the space inside the cell compartmentfor accommodating a fuel cell with the outside of the casing is disposedat a surface which faces the other device but is not in contacttherewith when the other device is connected to the connection portion,which is a certain surface in the vicinity of the connection portion, ofthe surfaces of the casing thereof.

The third electronic device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a connection portion for connecting another device comprisinga cell compartment for accommodating a fuel cell and an opening forlinking the space inside the cell compartment with the outside of acasing of the other device, and a protrusion which protrudes from thesurface facing the opening and is disposed in the vicinity of thesurface facing the opening when the other device is connected to theconnection portion, of the surfaces of a casing of the third electronicdevice, wherein the connection portion is disposed at the protrusion.

The third electronic device can be a camera, and the other device can bean auxiliary device for the camera, which provides the camera with aprescribed function.

In the third electronic device in accordance with the present invention,the connection portion for connecting another device comprising a cellcompartment for accommodating a fuel cell and an opening for linking thespace inside the cell compartment with the outside of the casing of theother device is disposed at the protrusion which protrudes from thesurface facing the opening and is disposed in the vicinity of thesurface facing the opening when the other device is connected to theconnection portion, of the surfaces of the casing of the thirdelectronic device.

The fourth electronic device in accordance with the present inventioncomprises a first cell compartment for accommodating a first fuel cell,a first opening for linking the space inside the first cell compartmentwith the outside of a casing of the fourth electronic device, aconnection portion for connecting another device comprising a secondcell compartment for accommodating a second fuel cell and a secondopening for linking the space inside the second cell compartment withthe outside of a casing of the other device, wherein the first openingis disposed in a position which is not in contact with the other deviceand which faces the second opening when the other device is connected tothe connection portion.

The fourth electronic device can be a camera, and the other device canbe an auxiliary device for the camera, which provides the camera with aprescribed function.

In the fourth electronic device in accordance with the presentinvention, there are provided a first cell compartment for accommodatinga first fuel cell, a first opening for linking the space inside thefirst cell compartment with the outside of the casing of the fourthelectronic device, a connection portion for connecting another devicecomprising a second cell compartment for accommodating a second fuelcell and a second opening for linking the space inside the second cellcompartment with the outside of the casing of the other device, whereinthe first opening is disposed in a position which is not in contact withthe other device when the other device is connected to the connectionportion and which faces the second opening.

The camera in accordance with the present invention comprises a cellcompartment capable of accommodating a fuel cell and a takinglens-barrel detachably or integrally, wherein an opening allowingcontact of the fuel cell located inside the cell compartment with theoutside-air is provided between the cell compartment and the takinglens-barrel.

In the camera in accordance with the present invention, an openingallowing contact of the fuel cell located inside the cell compartmentwith the outside air is provided between the cell compartment capable ofaccommodating a fuel cell and the taking lens-barrel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom view illustrating an example of the externalconfiguration of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery where the air orifices andair orifice guard are disposed, in the front view in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the periphery where the air orifices andair orifice guard are disposed, in the horizontal sectional view of theA-A′ portion of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of thecamera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block-diagram illustrating an example of the electricconfiguration of the camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating another example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view illustrating an example of the externalconfiguration of the camera shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating another example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of thecamera shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating an example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention, wherein anauxiliary unit is connected to the camera;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of theauxiliary unit of the camera shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating an example of the externalconfiguration of the auxiliary unit of the camera shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the central portion of thefront surface of the casing of the auxiliary unit of the camera ofanother example using the present invention, wherein the auxiliary unitis connected to the camera;

FIG. 15 is a front view illustrating another example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention, wherein anauxiliary unit is connected to the camera;

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of theauxiliary unit of the camera shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front view illustrating another example of the externalconfiguration of the camera employing the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of theauxiliary unit of the camera shown in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the central portion of thefront surface of the casing of the camera which is another exampleemploying the present invention, wherein an auxiliary unit is connectedto the camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the external configuration of the frontsurface of a camera as an electronic device employing the firstembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 represents an example of theexternal configuration of the lower surface of the camera 1 shown inFIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, a release button 11 which is pushed when a usertakes a picture of an object is provided on a side surface 1-6 of thecasing of the camera 1.

The surface 1-6 where the release button 11 is disposed will behereinbelow called an upper surface and a surface 1-5 which is oppositeto the upper surface 1-6 will be called a bottom surface, those surfacesbeing side surfaces which are substantially perpendicular to a mainsurface 1-1 of the casing of the camera 1. Here in FIG. 1, for example,among the normal directions to the bottom surface 1-5 of the casing ofthe camera 1, the direction from the bottom surface 1-5 to the uppersurface 1-6 will be considered as an upward direction. Such arelationship between the upper surface, bottom surface, and upwarddirection is the same for other drawings (the below-described otherembodiments), unless stated otherwise.

A light-emitting unit 12 for emitting light as a flash when the usertakes a picture of the object and a finder 13 allowing the user to viewthe object are provided from left to right at the front surface 1-1 ofthe casing of the camera 1, above almost the center thereof. Alens-barrel 14 having taking lenses for taking a picture of the object,air orifices 15 for linking the space inside a cell compartment 18 foraccommodating a fuel cell (for example, the below-described fuel cell 31shown in FIG. 5) with the outside of the casing of the camera 1, and anair orifice guard 16 are provided from right to left below theaforementioned components, and a lid 17 which is opened when the userpulls out the fuel cell accommodated in the cell compartment 18 andclosed otherwise is provided therebelow.

The air orifices 15 are provided for introducing oxygen (air) used bythe fuel cell accommodated in the cell compartment 18 for generatingelectric power from the outside of the casing of the camera 1 into thespace (fuel cell) inside the cell compartment 18.

Therefore, when the user holds the camera 1 with his/her hand and takesa picture of the object, the air orifices 15 should not be closed by theuser's hand. Accordingly, in the camera 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the airorifices 15 are disposed close to the lens-barrel 14 almost in thecenter of the front surface 1-1 of the casing.

Thus, when the user holds the camera 1 with his/her hand and takes apicture of the object, both end portions of the front surface 1-1 of thecasing are most often held with the user's hand. Therefore, in thecamera 1, the air orifices 15 are disposed in a position different fromboth end portions held by the user (the portions held by the user when apicture of the object is taken, such as both end portions of the frontsurface 1-1 of the casing of the camera 1, will be referred tohereinbelow as “grip portions”).

In particular, in the present embodiment, the air orifices 15 are formedbetween the cell compartment 18 and the lens-barrel 14. Therefore, theprobability of the air orifices 15 being closed by the user's fingers islow.

The air orifice guard 16 is a protrusion or recess formed between theair orifices 15 at the front surface 1-1 of the casing and the gripportion. FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show the air orifice guard 16 of this examplein greater detail. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery of theair orifices 15 and air orifice guard 16 at the front surface 1-1 of thecasing of the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1. Further, FIG. 4 is a enlargedview of the periphery of the air orifices 15 and air orifice guard 16 inthe horizontal cross-sectional view (below-described FIG. 5) of the A-A′portion of the camera 1 shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the air orifice guard 16 is formed as apeak-valley portion between the air orifices 15 and grip portion at thefront surface 1-1 of the casing of the camera 1. Therefore, thefollowing effect can be produced. Thus, when the user holds the camera 1with his/her hand and takes a picture of the object, the state in whichthe user views the object via the finder 13 (FIG. 1) is maintained for along time. In this state, too, the user can recognize that the airorifices 15 are close to his/her hand by the touch of the hand (bytouching the air orifice guard 16), without looking at the position ofthe air orifices 15. Therefore, the air orifices 15 can be reliablyprevented from being closed by the user's hand.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of thecamera 1 shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the direction from the rear surface 1-2 to thefront surface 1-1, among the directions perpendicular to the rearsurface 1-2 (the surface 1-2 opposite to the front surface 1-1) of thecasing of the camera 1, is taken as the upward direction, theabove-mentioned cell compartment 18 for accommodating the fuel cell 31,a circuit substrate 33-1 for carrying a circuit for controlling theoperation of the entire camera 1, and a memory card 34 for recording thedata of the image picked up by the camera 1 are provided from the topdown in the order of description at the left side (by a side surface 1-3among the side surfaces which are almost perpendicular to the frontsurface 1-1 of the casing) inside the casing of the camera 1.Furthermore, a circuit substrate 33-2 for carrying a circuit forcontrolling the operation of the entire camera 1 is provided from theleft side of the casing to the right side thereof below the memory card34.

A memory card lid 38 is provided at the side surface 1-3 of the casingof the camera 1. The memory card lid 38 is opened when the user pullsout the memory card 34 and closed otherwise.

A capacitor 32 for accumulating the energy (electric charge) for causingthe light-emitting unit 12 (FIG. 1) to emit light is provided at theright side of the cell compartment 18 and the substrate 33-1 inside thecasing of the camera 1, and the lens-barrel 14 is provided at the rightside thereof. A lens 14-1, a shutter unit 14-2, a lens 14-3, and a lens14-4 are provided in the order of description from top down in thelens-barrel 14.

A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 37 which is an imaging element for takingthe picture of the object, the above-mentioned circuit substrate 33-2,and a LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 35 for displaying the images such asthe images of the object picked up with the camera 1 (picked up by theCCD 37) are provided from top down in the order of description below thelens 14-4 also inside the casing of the camera 1.

A LCD window 36 for protecting the LCD 35 is provided at the rearsurface 1-2 of the casing of the camera 1, and the user can see theimage displayed on the LCD 35 through the LCD window 36.

As described hereinabove, the air orifices 15 for linking the spaceinside the cell compartment 18 with the outside of the casing of thecamera 1 are provided between the lens-barrel 14 and grip portion (endportion at the left side as shown in FIG. 5) at the front surface 1-1 ofthe casing of the camera 1, and the air orifice guard 16 (recognizableby the touch of the user's hand) for informing the user that the airorifices 15 are close to his/her hand is provided at the right side ofthe air orifices in the vicinity thereof.

The casing of the camera 1 is composed of a front cover 19 at the sideof the front surface 1-1 and a back cover 20 at the side of the rearsurface 1-2, the boundary between the covers being almost in the centerof the side surface 1-3 and side surface 1-4 of the casing. The backcover 20 can be opened and closed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an electric configuration of thecamera 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, the camera 1 comprises the fuel cell 31 as a powersource accommodated in the above-described cell compartment 18 (FIG. 5)and a main control unit 51 for controlling the operation of the entirecamera 1.

Thus, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM(Random Access Memory), and the like, are provided in the main controlunit 51 (those components are not shown in the figure), and the CPUcontrols the operation of the entire camera 1 according to the programthat was loaded into the RAM from the program stored in the ROM or thelike. Data necessary for the CPU to execute a variety of processingoperations are appropriately stored in the RAM.

In other words, a main control unit 51 controls the components frombelow-described image processing unit 53 to the flash unit 59 inresponse to the signals inputted from the below-described input unit 52.

In the camera 1, there are further provided the input unit 52 composedof the above-mentioned release button 11 (FIG. 1), the image processingunit 53 for conducting the prescribed image processing with respect toimage signals (image signals picked up with the CCD 37 and convertedinto analog signals) supplied from the above-mentioned CCD 37, a shuttermotor 54 which is contained in the shutter unit 14-2 (FIG. 5), opens ashutter (not shown in the figures) so as to allow the light from thelens 14-1 (FIG. 5) to pass within the prescribed exposure time once therelease button 11 has been pushed, and otherwise closes the shutter, afocusing motor 55 for adjusting the aperture of a diaphragm (not shownin the figures) with respect to the lens 14-1, a zooming motor 56 forextending or contracting the lens-barrel 14 (FIG. 5) for zooming, and azoom encoder 57 for controlling the zooming motor 56.

The camera 1 further comprises a LCD drive unit. 58 for driving theabove-mentioned LCD 35 and a flash unit 59 comprising theabove-mentioned light-emitting unit 14 and causing the light-emittingunit 14 to emit the light.

Further, in the present example, the circuits corresponding to the maincontrol unit 51, image processing unit 53, and LCD drive unit 58 arecarried, for example, by the above-mentioned circuit substrate 33-1 orcircuit substrate 33-2 (FIG. 5). However, because the flash unit 59 hasa high-voltage circuit, it is carried by a special substrate (not shownin the figures) which is different from the circuit substrate 33-1 andcircuit substrate 33-2.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, only the fuel cell 31 is taken as apower source of the camera 1, but the present invention is not limitedto the example shown in FIG. 6, and a secondary battery (not shown inthe figures) such as a liquid ion battery may be used together with thefuel cell 31. In this case, a power source control unit (not shown inthe figure) can be provided between the main control unit 51, fuel cell31, and secondary battery. The power source control unit, for example,conducts control (switching control) by selecting either the fuel cellor the secondary battery as the power source for the camera 1, orconducts control by charging the secondary battery from the fuel celland using the secondary battery as the main power source of the camera1.

As described hereinabove, the camera 1 employing the first embodiment ofthe present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, comprises the cellcompartment 18 for accommodating the fuel cell 31 and the air orifices15 for linking the space inside the cell compartment 18 with the outsideof the casing, those air orifices being disposed in a position differentfrom that of the portion (grip portion) which is held by the user, inthe vicinity of the center of the front surface 1-1 of the casing. Morespecifically, the air orifices 15 are disposed in the vicinity of thelens-barrel 14.

As a result, even when the user takes a picture of the object by holdingthe camera 1 with his/her hand, the air orifices 15 are not closed bythe user's hand, oxygen (air) can be normally supplied to the fuel cell31 accommodated in the cell compartment 18, and the fuel cell 31 cancontinuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity. Therefore,the components from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown inFIG. 6 can operate at all times.

Furthermore, in the camera 1 employing the first embodiment of thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the air orifice guard16 is formed in the vicinity of the air orifices 15 on the front surface1-1 of the casing, on the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel 14is disposed with respect to the air orifices 15. Therefore, as describedabove, the below-described effect can be demonstrated.

Thus, even when the user holds the camera 1 with his/her hand and viewsthe object via the finder 13 in order to take a picture of the object,the user can recognize that the air orifices 15 are close to his/herhand by the touch of the hand (by touching the air orifice guard 16),without looking at the position of the air orifices 15. Therefore, theair orifices 15 can be reliably prevented from being closed by theuser's hand. As a result, oxygen (air) can be normally supplied to thefuel cell 31 accommodated in the cell compartment 18, the fuel cell 31can continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity, and thecomponents from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown in FIG. 6can operate at all times.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the external configuration of the frontsurface of a camera as an electronic device employing the secondembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 represents an example of theexternal configuration of the lower surface of the camera 101 shown inFIG. 7.

In the example shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the external configuration ofthe camera 101 is basically identical to that of the camera 1 (FIG. 1and FIG. 2) of the first embodiment. Thus, a release button 111 to airorifices 115 shown in FIG. 7, as well as a cell compartment 118 and alid 117 thereof, are composed similarly to the respective componentsfrom the release button 11 to the cell compartment 18 shown in FIG. 1and are disposed in similar positions.

However, in the camera 101, the grip portion 116 itself is formed as aprotrusion which protrudes from the front surface 101-1 of the casing,as shown in FIG. 8, instead of using the air orifice guard 16 (FIG. 1 toFIG. 5).

Furthermore, the electric configuration of the camera 101 in thisexample is identical to that of the camera 1 of the first embodiment.Thus, FIG. 6 is a block diagram representing also the electricconfiguration of the camera 101.

As described hereinabove, in the camera 101 which utilizes the secondembodiment of the present invention, there are provided, as shown inFIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the cell compartment 118 for accommodating the fuelcell (not shown in the figure, but it is identical to the fuel cell 31shown in FIG. 5) and the air orifices 115 for linking the space insidethe cell compartment 118 with the outside of the casing, those airorifices being disposed in a position different from that of the portion(grip portion 116) which is held by the user, in the vicinity of thecenter of the front surface 101-1 of the casing. More specifically, theair orifices 115 are disposed in the vicinity of the lens-barrel 114.

As a result, similarly to the camera 1 (FIG. 1 through FIG. 5) of thefirst embodiment, even when the user takes a picture of the object byholding the camera 101 with his/her hand, the air orifices 115 are notclosed by the user's hand, oxygen (air) can be normally supplied to thefuel cell accommodated in the cell compartment 118, and the fuel cellcan continuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity.Therefore, the components from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59shown in FIG. 6 can operate at all times.

Furthermore, in the camera 101 employing the second embodiment of thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the grip portion 116 (theprotrusion which protrudes from the front surface 1-1) is formed in thevicinity of the air orifices 115 on the front surface 1-1 of the casing,on the side opposite to that where the lens-barrel 14 is disposed withrespect to the air orifices 115. As a result, the air orifices 115 canbe reliably prevented from being closed by the user's hand. Therefore,oxygen (air) can be normally supplied to the fuel cell accommodated inthe cell compartment 118, the fuel cell can continuously generate asufficient quantity of electricity, and the components from the maincontrol unit 51 to the flash 59 shown in FIG. 6 can operate at alltimes.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates an example of the external configuration of the frontsurface of a camera as an electronic device employing the thirdembodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, a release button 211-1 is provided on the uppersurface 201-2 of the casing of the camera 201.

In almost the center of the front surface 201-1 of the casing of thecamera 201, there are provided a detachable lens-barrel 212 comprisingtaking lenses (not shown in the figure), air orifices 213 for linkingthe space inside the cell compartment 214 for accommodating a fuel cell(for example, a fuel cell 228 shown in the below-described FIG. 10) withthe outside of the casing of the camera 201, and a grip portion 215which is held by the user when the user takes a picture by holding thecamera 201 so that the side surface 201-4 is the upper surface (thistaking position will be referred to hereinbelow as “vertical position;the grip portion in the vertical position will be referred to as“vertical position grip portion”), those components being provided inthe order of description from top down. The release button 211-2 for avertical position is provided at the left end of the vertical positiongrip portion 215.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′portion of thecamera 201 shown in FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 10, inside the casing of the camera 201, a mirror box221 composed of a main mirror 221-1 and a sub-mirror 221-2 is providedat the right side of the aforementioned lens-barrel 212, a screen 222 isprovided above the main mirror 221-1, a penta prism 223 is providedabove the screen, and an ocular 224 is provided at the right side of thepenta prism. The user takes a picture of an object positioned oppositethe lens-barrel 212 (positioned in the direction of a taking opticalaxis 241), and the user views the object with the ocular 224 via thetaking lens of the lens-barrel 212, main mirror 221-1, screen 222, andpenta prism 223.

Further, inside the casing of the camera 201, an autofocus module 227 isprovided below the sub-mirror 221-2, and a CCD (Charge Coupled Device)225 which is an imaging element for taking the picture of the object anda substrate 226 which carries the circuitry for controlling theoperation of the entire camera 201 are provided in the order ofdescription, from left to right, at the right side of the sub-mirror221-2.

Further, the components from the mirror box 221 through the autofocusmodule 227 are not directly related to the present invention and can bereadily understood by a person skilled in the art. For this reason, theexplanation thereof is herein omitted.

Further, inside the casing of the camera 201, the above-described cellcompartment 214 for accommodating the fuel cell 228 is provided belowthe autofocus module 227.

The aforementioned air orifices 213 are provided below (in the vicinityof) the lens-barrel 212 at the front surface 201-1 of the casing of thecamera 201, and the aforementioned vertical position grip portion 215 isprovided below the air orifices. The vertical position grip portion 215is formed as a protrusion which protrudes from the main surface 201-1,similarly to the grip portion 116 (FIG. 8) of the camera 201 of thesecond embodiment.

The electric configuration of the camera 201, for example, may besimilar to that of the camera 1 of the first embodiment. Thus, FIG. 6 isa block diagram representing also the electric configuration of thecamera 201.

As described hereinabove, in the camera 201 which utilizes the thirdembodiment of the present invention, there are provided, as shown inFIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the cell compartment 214 for accommodating the fuelcell 228 and the air orifices 213 for linking the space inside the cellcompartment 214 with the outside of the casing, those air orifices beingdisposed in a position different from that of the portion (verticalposition grip portion 215 or grip portion of usual taking position (bothend portions of the front surface 201-1 in FIG. 9)) which is held by theuser, in the vicinity of the center of the front surface 201-1 of thecasing. More specifically, the air orifices 213 are disposed in thevicinity of the lens-barrel 212 (below the lens-barrel 212, as shown inFIG. 10).

As a result, when the user takes a picture of the object by holding thecamera 201 with his/her hand, the air orifices 213 are not closed by theuser's hand, oxygen (air) can be normally supplied to the fuel cell 228accommodated in the cell compartment 214, and the fuel cell 228 cancontinuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity, regardlessof whether the taking position is the usual taking position (position inwhich the side surface 201-3 is the upper surface) or a verticalposition (position in which the side surface 201-4 is the uppersurface). Therefore, the components from the main control unit 51 to theflash 59 shown in FIG. 6 can operate at all times.

Furthermore, in the camera 201 employing the third embodiment of thepresent invention, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the vertical positiongrip portion 215 (protrusion which protrudes from the front surface201-1) is formed in the vicinity of the air orifices 213 on the frontsurface 201-1 of the casing, on the side (lower side as shown in FIG.10) opposite to that (upper side as shown in FIG. 10) where thelens-barrel 212 is disposed with respect to the air orifices 213. As aresult, when the user holds the camera 201 by the vertical position gripportion 215, similarly to the grip portion 116 (FIG. 8) of the secondembodiment, the air orifices 213 can be reliably prevented from beingclosed by the user's hand. Therefore, oxygen (air) can be reliablysupplied to the fuel cell 228 accommodated in the cell compartment 214,the fuel cell can continuously generate a sufficient quantity ofelectricity, and the components from the main control unit 51 to theflash 59 shown in FIG. 6 can operate at all times.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 11 represents an example of the external configuration of a cameraas an electronic device employing the fourth embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein an auxiliary unit is connected to the camera.

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of avertical position grip 302 connected to a camera 301 shown in FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, in the fourth embodiment, the vertical positiongrip 302 corresponding to the vertical position grip portion 215 of thecamera 201 (FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) of the third embodiment is detachablefrom the camera 301.

In other words, in the camera 301 shown in FIG. 11, the verticalposition grip portion 215 was separated from the camera 201 of the thirdembodiment. Therefore, the configuration (external appearance, insidethe casing, electric configuration, and the like) of the camera 301 isessentially identical to that of the camera 201 and the explanationthereof is therefore omitted.

A cell compartment for accommodating a fuel cell is contained in thebelow-described vertical position grip 302. In this example, the camera301 has a power source (not shown in the figure) different from the fuelcell and, as will be described hereinbelow, the fuel cell accommodatedin the vertical position grip 302 can be used as a power source of thecamera only when the vertical position grip 302 is connected thereto.

The configuration of the vertical position grip 302 employing the fourthembodiment of the present invention is basically identical to that ofthe vertical position grip portion 215 (FIG. 9 and FIG. 10) of the thirdembodiment. Thus, in the vertical position grip 302, as shown in FIG.11, a release button 322 for a vertical position is provided at the leftend of the protrusion protruding from the front surface 346 of thecasing and, as shown in FIG. 12, a cell compartment 323 foraccommodating a fuel cell 341 is provided inside the casing.

However, the vertical position grip 302, as was described hereinabove,can be detached from the camera 301. Therefore, in the vertical positiongrip 302, as shown in FIG. 11, a positioning pin 324, a tripod threadedportion 325, and a hook 326 are provided as connection portions forconnecting to the camera 301 at the upper surface of the casing (morespecifically, at the below-described connection surface 342 shown inFIG. 12 and FIG. 13). As shown in FIG. 12, the air orifices 321 forlinking the space inside the cell compartment 323 with the outside ofthe casing are provided at the surface 344 which is positioned below theconnection surface 342 (the surface 342 where the connection portionsare disposed) when the vertical position grip 302 is connected to thecamera 301 with those connection portions (positioning pin 324, tripodthreaded portion 325, and hook 326),.

A water repellent sheet 343 is provided between the air orifices 321 andthe inside of the casing. This water repellent sheet 343 is a sheethaving air permeability which is employed for the purpose of preventingdust and moisture from penetrating into the casing. It is alsoappropriately provided for the purpose in the below-described otherembodiments.

Thus, when connection portions (positioning pin 324, tripod threadedportion 325, and hook 326) are connected to the camera 301 (a state inwhich the bottom surface 301-3 of the casing of the camera 301 is incontact with the connection surface 342 of the vertical position grip302), the air orifices 321 are disposed at the surface 344 which facesthe bottom surface 301-3 of the camera 301, without contact therewith.Therefore, they are at a certain distance from the bottom surface 301-3of the camera 301 (a gap is present at the left side, as shown in FIG.12).

Therefore, even when the vertical position grip 302 is connected to thecamera 301, the air orifices 321 are not closed by the camera 301,oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 341 accommodatedin the cell compartment 323, and the fuel cell can continuously generatea sufficient quantity of electricity.

FIG. 13 is a top surface view of the vertical position grip 302.

In FIG. 13, for example, among the normal directions to the rear surface345 of the vertical position grip 302, the direction from the rearsurface 345 to the front surface 346 where the protrusion is located istaken as an upward direction.

As shown in FIG. 13, the above-mentioned hook 326 is provided at theleft end portion of the connection surface 342 of the vertical positiongrip 302, and a power supply signal pin 352 for supplying electric powerfrom the fuel cell 341 (FIG. 12) accommodated in the cell compartment323 to the camera 301, the above-mentioned positioning pin 324, thetripod threaded portion 325, and a tripod thread rotation controlportion 351 are provided from top down in the order of description inthe end portion at the right side (side where the release button 322 isdisposed) from the hook.

A surface 344 where the aforementioned air orifices 321 are disposed isformed in the vertical position grip 302 in the center of the uppersurface thereof (within the connection surface 342). In other words, theconnection surface 345 is formed as a protrusion protruding from thesurface 344.

As described hereinabove, in the vertical position grip 302 employingthe fourth embodiment of the present invention, there are provided, asshown in FIG. 11 to FIG. 13, the cell compartment 323 for accommodatingthe fuel cell 341, the positioning pin 324, tripod threaded portion 325,and hook 326 serving as the connection portions for connecting to thecamera 301, and the air orifices 321 for linking the space inside thecell compartment 323 with the outside of the casing, those air orificesbeing disposed at the surface 344 in the vicinity of those connectionportions (the connection surface 342 where they are disposed), among thesurfaces of the casing. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, when the camera301 is connected to the connection portions, surface 344 where the airorifices 321 are disposed faces the bottom surface 301-3 of the camera301, without contact therewith. In other words, as shown in FIG. 12, thesurface 344 where the air orifices 321 are disposed is at a certaindistance from the camera 301 when the connection portions (positioningpin 324, tripod threaded portion 325, and hook 326) are connected to thecamera 301.

As a result, even when the vertical position grip 302 is connected tothe camera 301, the air orifices 321 are not closed by the camera 301,oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 341 accommodatedin the cell compartment 323, and the fuel cell 341 can continuouslygenerate a sufficient quantity of electricity. Therefore, when thevertical position grip 302 is connected to the camera 301, electricpower can be reliably supplied from the fuel cell 341 to the camera 301via the power supply signal pin 352. As a result, the components fromthe main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown in FIG. 6 can operate atall times.

The vertical position grip 302 can be connected not only to the camera301 shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, but to a variety of cameras.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken in the vicinity of thecentral portion of the front surface of an auxiliary unit for a cameraas an electronic device employing the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, wherein the auxiliary unit is connected to the camera.

The vertical position grip 402 of the fifth embodiment, for example, hasa configuration basically identical to that of the vertical positiongrip 302 (FIG. 11 to FIG. 13) of the fourth embodiment.

Thus, similarly to the vertical position grip 302 (FIG. 11 to FIG. 13),a release button (not shown in the figures, but is similar to therelease button 322 shown in FIG. 1) is provided at the front surface ofthe casing of the vertical position grip 402, and a cell compartment 415for accommodating a fuel cell 416 is provided inside the casing, asshown in FIG. 14.

Similarly to the vertical position grip 302 (FIG. 11 to FIG. 13),connection portions (not shown in the figure, but are similar to thepositioning pin 324, tripod threaded portion 325, and hook 326 shown inFIG. 11) for connecting to the camera 301 are also provided, in thevertical position grip 402, and the vertical position grip can bedetachably attached to the camera 301 with those connection portion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the vertical position grip 402 andthe camera 301 are connected to each other with the connection portions,the connection surface 417 is provided at the left side (side of thefront surface 301-1 of the camera 301), and the surface 418 where theair orifices 411 are disposed is provided at the right side (side of therear surface 301-4 of the camera 301). A water repellent sheet 413 isprovided between the air orifices 411 and the inside of the casing.

Thus, similarly to the air orifices 321 (FIG. 12) of the fourthembodiment, when the camera 301 is connected to the connection portions(a state in which the connection surface 417 and the bottom surface301-3 of the camera 301 are in contact) the air orifices 411 aredisposed at the surface 418 which faces the bottom surface 301-3 of thecamera 301, but is not in contact therewith. Therefore, they areseparated by a certain distance from the camera 301 (a gap is present atthe right side).

Therefore, even when the vertical position grip 402 is connected to thecamera 301, the air orifices 411 are not closed by the camera 301,oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 416 accommodatedin the cell compartment 415, and the fuel cell can continuously generatea sufficient quantity of electricity.

Further, in the vertical position grip 402, air orifices 412 for linkingthe space inside the cell compartment 415 to the outside of the casingare also provided at the bottom surface 419 (the surface 419 facing thesurface 418 where the air orifices 411 are disposed and the connectionsurface 417) of the casing. A water repellent sheet 414 is providedbetween the air orifices 412 and the inside of the casing.

Thus, in the vertical position grip 402, the air orifices 411 areprovided at the surface 418 in the vicinity of the connection surface(upper surface) 417 and the air orifices 412 are additionally providedat the bottom surface 419. Therefore, circulation of air located insidethe cell compartment 415 and the outside air can be improved.

Furthermore, for example, when the fuel cell 416 is of a type using amethanol fuel and releasing carbon dioxide, the carbon dioxide which hasa high specific gravity is released from the air orifices 412 to theoutside of the camera. Therefore, the carbon dioxide can be preventedfrom accumulating in the bottom portion of the cell compartment 415.

As described hereinabove, in the vertical position grip 402 employingthe fifth embodiment of the present invention, there are provided thecell compartment 415 (FIG. 14) for accommodating the fuel cell 416, theconnection portions (not shown in the figure, but are similar to thepositioning pin 324, tripod threaded portion 325, and hook 326 shown inFIG. 11 and FIG. 13 (similarly to the fourth embodiment)) for connectingto the camera 301, and the air orifices 411 (FIG. 14) for linking thespace inside the cell compartment 415 with the outside of the casing,those air orifices being disposed at the surface 418 close to thoseconnection portions (the connection surface 417 where they aredisposed), among the surfaces of the casing. Further, as shown in FIG.14, when the camera 301 is connected to the connection portions, thesurface 418 where the air orifices 411 are disposed faces the bottomsurface 301-3 of the camera 301, without contact therewith. In otherwords, as shown in FIG. 14, the surface 418 where the air orifices 411are disposed is at a certain distance from the camera 301 when theconnection portions are connected to the camera 301.

As a result, even when the vertical position grip 402 is connected tothe camera 301, the air orifices 411 are not closed by the camera 301,oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 416 accommodatedin the cell compartment 415, and the fuel cell 416 can continuouslygenerate a sufficient quantity of electricity. Therefore, when thevertical position grip 402 is connected to the camera 301, electricpower can be reliably supplied from the fuel cell 416 to the camera 301via a power supply signal pin (not shown in the figure, but is similarto the power supply signal pin 352 shown in FIG. 13). As a result, thecomponents from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown in FIG. 6can operate at all times.

The vertical position grip 402 can be connected not only to the camera301 shown in FIG. 14, but to a variety of cameras.

Sixth Embodiment

As described hereinabove, in the fourth and fifth embodiments, measuresaimed at preventing the air orifices, which are disposed at theprescribed surface of the casing of the vertical position grip, frombeing closed by the camera when the vertical position grip is connectedto the camera, were focused on the casing of the vertical position grip.

By contrast, in the sixth embodiment, those measures are focused on thecasing of the camera.

FIG. 15 illustrates the external configuration of the front surface of acamera as an electronic device employing the sixth embodiment of thepresent invention of the camera employing the present invention, whereina vertical position grip (auxiliary unit) is connected to the camera.

FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of acamera 501 shown in FIG. 15.

As shown in FIG. 15, the external configuration of the camera 501 isbasically identical to that of the camera 301 (FIG. 11) of theabove-described third and fourth embodiment. Thus, a release button 511is provided at the upper surface 501-2 of the casing of the camera 501,and a lens-barrel 512 is provided at the front surface 501-1.

Both the inner structure and electric configuration of the camera 501are basically identical to those of the camera 301 of theabove-described third and fourth embodiment. Therefore, the explanationthereof is omitted.

The external configuration of the vertical position grip 502 which to beconnected to the camera 501 is also basically identical to that of thevertical position grip 302 (FIG. 11 to FIG. 13) of the above-describedfourth embodiment and, as shown in FIG. 15, a positioning pin 524, atripod threaded portion 525, and a hook 526 serving as connectionportions for connecting to the camera 501 are provided at the uppersurface 502-2 of the casing of the vertical position grip 502. A releasebutton 522 for a vertical position is provided in the left end portionof the protrusion protruding from the front surface 502-1.

In the vertical position grip 502, as shown in FIG. 16, there areprovided, a cell compartment 523 for accommodating the fuel cell 531 andair orifices 521 for linking the space inside the cell compartment 523with the outside of the casing. A water repellent sheet 533 is providedbetween the air orifices 521 and the inside of the casing.

However, as shown in FIG. 16, the air orifices 521 are disposed in theupper surface 502-2 which is the surface where the connection portions(positioning pin 524, tripod threaded portion 525, and hook 526 (FIG.15)) are disposed and, for example, when the above-described camera 301(FIG. 12) is connected instead of the camera 501 to the verticalposition grip 502, the air orifices 521 are closed by the camera 301.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 16, a protrusion which protrudes from asurface 542 facing the air orifices 521 of the vertical position grip502 when the vertical position grip 502 is connected is formed at thebottom surface 501-3 of the casing of the camera 501 and the surface ofthis protrusion is taken as a connection surface 541. Thus, theconnection portion which is to be connected to the positioning pin 524,tripod threaded portion 525, and hook 526 (FIG. 15) of the verticalposition grip 502 is provided at the connection surface 541.

As described hereinabove, in the camera 501 employing the sixthembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16,there are provided the connection portion (connection portion forconnecting to the positioning pin 524, tripod threaded portion 525, andhook 526 (FIG. 15) of the vertical position grip 502) for connecting thevertical position grip 502 comprising the cell compartment 523 foraccommodating the fuel cell 531 and the air orifices 521 for linking thespace inside the cell compartment 523 with the outside of the casing,and a protrusion which protrudes from the surface 542 and is disposed inthe vicinity of the surface 542 facing the air orifices 521 when thevertical position grip 502 is connected to that connection portion, andthe connection portion is disposed at the surface 541 (connectionsurface 541) of the protrusion.

As a result, even when the vertical position grip 502 is connected tothe camera 501, the air orifices 521 are not closed by the camera 501,oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 531 accommodatedin the cell compartment 523, and the fuel cell 531 can continuouslygenerate a sufficient quantity of electricity. Therefore, when thevertical position grip 502 is connected to the camera 501, electricpower can be reliably supplied from the fuel cell 531 to the camera 501via a power supply signal pin (not shown in the figure, but is similarto the power supply signal pin 352 shown in FIG. 13). As a result, thecomponents from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown in FIG. 6can operate at all times.

The camera 501 can be connected not only to the vertical position grip502 shown in FIG. 16, but also to a variety of devices comprising a cellcompartment for accommodating a fuel cell and air orifices for linkingthe space inside the cell compartment with the outside of the casing.

Seventh Embodiment

As described hereinabove, in the first to third embodiments, when a cellcompartment for accommodating a fuel cell was provided in a camera, theair orifices for linking the space inside the cell compartment with theoutside of the casing were provided at the front surface of the casing.Therefore, measures were taken to prevent the air orifices from beingclosed by the user's hand.

By contrast, in the seventh embodiment, as will be describedhereinbelow, the air orifices for linking the space inside the cellcompartment with the outside of the casing are provided at the bottomsurface of the casing. Therefore, measures are taken to prevent the airorifices from being closed by another device when this device isconnected to the bottom surface of the casing.

FIG. 17 represents an example of external configuration of the frontsurface of a camera as an electronic device employing such seventhembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the A-A′ portion of thecamera 601 shown in FIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 17, a release button 611 is provided at the uppersurface 601-3 of the casing of the camera 601, a lens-barrel 612 isprovided at the front surface 601-1 thereof, and a connection portion(tripod socket) 614 for connecting to another device is provided at thebottom surface 601-3 thereof.

In the example shown in FIG. 17, an external flash device 602 isconnected to the camera 601, and the camera 601 and flash device 602 arefixed by a flash protector 603. Thus, the flash protector 603 isconnected to the connection portion 614 of the camera 601. Further, theconnection portion 614 can be used for connecting not only the flashprotector 603 by also a variety of other devices such as a tripod.

The internal configuration of the camera 601 is basically identical, forexample, to that of the camera 201 (FIG. 10) of the third embodiment,but as shown in FIG. 18, air orifices 621 for linking the space insidethe cell compartment 613 for accommodating the fuel cell 623 with theoutside of the casing are disposed at the bottom surface 601-3 ratherthan at the front surface 601-1 of the casing.

Further, a protrusion protruding from a surface 626 where the airorifices 621 are disposed is formed at the bottom surface 601-3 of thecasing of the camera 601, and the above-described connection portion 614is disposed at the surface 625 of this protrusion. Thus, the surface 625where the connection portion 614 is disposed serves as a flash protector603 of the camera 601.

Furthermore, a spherical protrusion 622 for maintaining a certaindistance (a gap is present at the right side) from the flash protector603 when the flash protector 603 is connected to the connection portion625 (a state in which the flash protector 603 is in contact with theconnection surface 625 of the camera 601) is formed at the surface 626where the air orifices 621 are disposed, of the bottom surface 601-3 ofthe casing of the camera 601.

The electric configuration of the camera 601 in this embodiments istaken to be identical, for example, to that of the camera 201 of thethird embodiment (camera 1 of the first embodiment). Thus, FIG. 6 isalso a block diagram representing the electric configuration of thecamera 601.

As described hereinabove, in the camera 601 employing the seventhembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18,there are provided the cell compartment 613 for accommodating the fuelcell 623, the connection portion 614 for connection to the flashprotector 603, and the air orifices 621 for linking the space inside thecell compartment 613 with the outside of the casing, those air orificesbeing disposed at the surface 626 which is in the vicinity of theconnection portion 614 (connection surface 625), of the surfaces of thecasing, and as shown in FIG. 18, when the flash protector 603 isconnected to the connection surface 625 (connection portion 614 (FIG.17)), the surface 626 where the air orifices 621 are disposed faces theflash protector 603, without being in contact therewith. In other words,the surface 626 where the air orifices 621 are disposed is at a certaindistance from the flash protector 603 when the flash protector 603 isconnected to the connection portion 614 (connection surface 625).

As a result, even when the flash protector 603 is connected to thecamera 601, the air orifices 621 are not closed by the flash protector603, oxygen (air) can be reliably supplied to the fuel cell 623accommodated in the cell compartment 613, and the fuel cell 623 cancontinuously generate a sufficient quantity of electricity. Therefore,the components from the main control unit 51 to the flash 59 shown inFIG. 6 can operate at all times.

Eighth Embodiment

FIG. 19 represents a configuration in the vertical cross section of thefront surface center of a camera as an electronic device employing theeighth embodiment of the present invention and a vertical position grip(auxiliary device of the camera).

The configuration (external appearance, inside the casing, electricconfiguration, and the like) of a camera 701 is basically identical, forexample, to that of the camera 601 of the above-described seventhembodiment. Thus, FIG. 6 is a block diagram also representing anelectric configuration of the camera 701.

However, both the air orifices 713 for linking the space inside the cellcompartment 712 for accommodating the fuel cell 711 with the outside ofthe casing via a water repellent sheet 714 and the connection portion(not shown in the figure, but, in this example, it is a connectionportion that can connect the positioning pin 324, tripod threadedportion 325, and hook 326 shown in FIG. 11, rather than the connectionportion 614 shown in FIG. 17) are disposed at the bottom surface 701-3of the casing (disposed at the same surface).

The vertical position grip 702, for example, has a configurationidentical to that of the vertical position grip 302 (FIG. 12) of theabove-described fourth embodiment.

Thus, in the vertical position grip 702, similarly to the verticalposition grip 302 (FIG. 11 and FIG. 12), a release button (not shown inthe figure, but is similar to the release button 322 (FIG. 11)) for avertical position is provided at the front surface of the casing, and asshown in FIG. 19, a cell compartment 722 for accommodating a fuel cell721 is provided inside the casing.

Further, in the vertical position grip 702, similarly to the verticalposition grip 302 (FIG. 11 and FIG. 12), a connection portion (not shownin the figure, but is similar to the positioning pint 324, tripodthreaded portion 325, and hook 326 (FIG. 11)) for connecting the camera701 is provided at the connection surface 724 shown in FIG. 19, and airorifices 723 for linking the space inside the cell compartment 722 withthe outside of the casing are provided at the surface 726 which ispositioned below the connection surface 724 when this connection portionand the camera 701 are connected, as shown in FIG. 19. A water repellentsheet 725 is provided between the air orifices 723 and the inside of thecasing.

As described hereinabove, in the camera 701 employing the eighthembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 19, there areprovided, a first cell compartment 712 for accommodating a first fuelcell 711, first air orifices 713 for linking the space inside the firstcell compartment 712 with the outside of the casing of the camera 701,and a connection portion (not shown in the figure, but in this example,the connection portion that can be connected to the positioning pin 324,tripod threaded portion 325, and hook 326 of the vertical position grip302 (FIG. 11)) for connecting to the vertical position grip 702comprising a second cell compartment 722 for accommodating a second fuelcell 721 and second air orifices 723 for linking the space inside thesecond cell compartment 722 with the outside of the casing of thevertical position grip 702, wherein the first air orifices 713 are inthe position which is not in contact with the vertical position grip 702when the vertical position grip 702 is connected to the aforementionedconnection portion and in a position facing the second air orifices 723.

Furthermore, in the vertical position grip 702 employing the eighthembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 19, there areprovided, the second cell compartment 722 for accommodating a secondfuel cell 721, a connection portion (not shown in the figure, butsimilar to the positioning pin 324, tripod threaded portion 325, andhook 326 of the vertical position grip 302 (FIG. 11)) for connection tothe camera 701 and disposed at the connection surface 724, and thesecond air orifices 723 for linking the space inside the second cellcompartment 722 with the outside of the casing of the vertical positiongrip 702, those air orifices being disposed at the surface 726 locatedin the vicinity of the connection surface 724, of the surfaces of thecasing of the vertical position grip 702, wherein the surface 726 wherethe second air orifices 723 are disposed faces the bottom surface 701-3of the camera 701 and is not in contact therewith when the camera 701 isconnected to the connection portion (connection surface 724).

In other words, as shown in FIG. 19, when the camera 701 is connected tothe connection portion (the bottom surface 701-3 of the camera 701 is incontact with the connection surface 724 of the vertical position grip702), the surface 726 of the vertical position grip 702 where the secondair orifices 723 are disposed is at a certain distance from the bottomsurface 701-3 of the camera 701.

As a result, even when the vertical position grip 702 is connected tothe camera 701, the first air orifices 713 of the camera 701 and thesecond air orifices 723 of the vertical position grip 702 are not closedby the other device (the vertical position grip 702 for the first airorifices 713 and the camera 701 for the second air orifices 723), oxygen(air) can be reliably supplied to the first fuel cell 711 accommodatedin the first cell compartment 712 of the camera 701 and to the secondfuel cell 721 accommodated in the second cell compartment 722 of thevertical position grip 702, and the first fuel cell 711 and the secondfuel cell 721 can continuously generate a sufficient quantity ofelectricity.

Further, the electronic device that can employ the present invention isnot limited to the above-described camera and auxiliary devices thereforand may be any electronic device using a fuel cell as a power source.For example, the present invention can be used in cellular phones orportable information processing terminals such as PDA (Personal DigitalAssistants).

As described hereinabove, the present invention makes it possible to usea fuel cell as a power source for an electronic device or a camera. Inparticular, it can provide for reliable supply of oxygen, which isnecessary for the fuel cell to generate electric power, to the fuelcell.

1. An electronic device employing a fuel cell as a power source,comprising: a cell compartment for accommodating the fuel cell; anopening for linking a space inside the cell compartment with an outsideof a casing of the electronic device to allow air to flow in and out ofthe space, which is disposed in a position in a vicinity of a center ofa prescribed surface of the casing, the position being other than aportion which is held by a user, and an opening and shutting meanshaving a lid that covers another opening of the cell compartment, theanother opening being disposed on a different surface of the casing thanthe prescribed surface, wherein the electronic device is a cameracomprising detachably or integrally a taking lens-barrel at a side ofthe prescribed surface of the casing where the opening is disposed; andthe opening is disposed in a vicinity of the taking lens-barrel.
 2. Theelectronic device according to claim 1, wherein a non-flat portion thatis shaped differently from other parts of the casing is formed at theprescribed surface of the casing where the opening is disposed at a sideopposite to that where the taking lens-barrel is disposed with respectto the opening, in the vicinity of the opening.